Loop-cutting attachment for ribknitting machines



July 25, 1939. c. E. sPlcHl-:R ET A1.

LOOP-CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR RIB-KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 17, 1937 Charlesfdwin Spin/zer and Tran k Wells Robinson lNVENTOl ATTORNEYS Patented July 2 5, 1939 PATENT OFFICE LOOP-CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR RIB- KNITTING MACHINES Charles Edwin Spicher, Millersburg, and Frank Wells Robinson, Reading, Pa.

-`Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 142,960

7 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to machine attachments for circular rib-knitting machines, and more particularly to loop-engaging and severing devices automatically operative to enter and cut opposite-end loops of special removable courses ordinarily introduced to unite the succession of separable fabric lengths into the usual continuously knitted tube commonly produced on these machines.

Such ribbed fabric is employed in known manner as tops for half-hose, or cuffs or the like for other articles, and each fabric section therefore commonly is knitted with a finishing course at one end formed of selvage loops, with which the loops of the special removable section-uniting courses are ordinarily engaged; and the means employed heretofore to separate the tubular sections has been to hand-cut the loops of these special courses so they may be pulled out, such additional operation adding to the cost of production and requiring nicety and skill to avoid unintentionally cutting loops of other courses and thus damaging or spoiling one or both of the united sections.

'I'he primary objects of the present invention are to eliminate the time and cost of the aforesaid loop hand-cutting operations with their inherent irregularities and possibilities of damaging errors, by providing a simple and eiective machine attachment for such purpose, and automatically operating the same to positively and accurately engage similar end loops of the respective special section-uniting courses, and sever the same, for their later ready pulling-out removal and facilitate a quick and equalized accuracy in separating the continuously knitted tube into its respective fabric sections with undamaged and more perfect courses at their free ends.

With the above primary objects in view, and with others that will later herein appear, the present invention comprises the improved loopengaging device and cutting means, with the mechanism for automatically operating the same, as more fully described in the following specification, in connection with the drawing accompanying the same and forming part thereof, and the novel features of which are set forth in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional 'elevation indicating the cylinder and dial, with their respective needles, of a usual circular rib-knitting machine, showing a preferred embodiment of the present improved attachment and its operating mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a separate front elevation of the improved device alone, looking in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of a fragmentary length of a continuously knitted tube, indicating the usual course of special loops removably uniting the ends of two separable fabric sections.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan View indicating how the loops of the special uniting course may be engaged preparatory to their being automatically cut.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively front and side elevations showing a modified construction of the attachment.

Circular rib-knitting machines are old in the art and their operation is well understood, and the drawing shows only the cylinder I and dial plate 2 with their respective circles of cylinder needles 3 and dial needles 4, it being understood that these are operated in usual and known manner by suitable operative and pattern-control mechanism not forming part of the present invention and therefore not necessary to show. And the continuous rib-knitted tubular fabric of separable fabric sections produceable on such machine is also well known, and the French Welt, indicated in the drawing, is one in common use, and is made up of similar like fabric sections 5, separably united by pulling courses 6 interengaging an end regular rib-loop course 1 of one section and a selvage-loop course 8 of the next section. Each section may have a topping course 9, for transfer to the needles of another machine knitting, where the separated sections are to be used as ribbed tops for half hose, and the uniting course 6, as diagrammatically 'indicated in Fig. 4, is usually formed of dial needle loops II) only, the cylinder needles drawing loop bends I I, which are not knitted and cause loose longer loops in each course 6 to permit ready removal as heretofore to separate the several sections, all of which is old and wellknown.

The separation of the fabric sections heretofore has required a hand-cutting of the opposite end loops of the courses 6 to free them for pulling out or removing them, such cutting requiring nicety and care and greatly reducing the quicker pulling out of the cut courses-and more perfect separation of the sections at less cost.

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose one embodiment of the invention and show a loop-engaging finger I5 carried axially close to the inner wall of the knitting cylinder I, with its upper, preferably hooked, end I5 adjacent the hooks of needles 3 and I, and its lower end supported by a rod I'I shown as having a reduced extension I8 projecting through a bearing plate I9 secured to the under face of cylinder I. Vertical movement is shown as imparted to the finger I5, by an arm IBI) xedly pivoted at 20 and pivotally connected at 2l to extension I8, with a spring 22 seating against bearing I9 and a collar 23 onextension I8 to normally hold finger I5 in its lowermost position, while permitting its vertical movement. And intermittent movement of finger I5 is provided, as shown, by. a cam disc 25, having lever engageable projections 28, and carried on a shaft 21, which may be part of, or operatively connected to the machine pattern control mechanism, so the disc will be rotated intermittently and in timed relation to the knitting operation.

'I'he preferably hooked end I6 normally lies below the needles 3 and I in idle position, and the knitted tubular fabric, diagrammatically indicated in vertical section in Fig. 1 by reference 30, depends and is drawn outwardly through the bottom of cylinder I as heretofore. When the knitting of the course of loops 6 is to be made, the pattern control mechanism operates to rotate disc 25 which causes a disc projection 26 to swing arm |90 to lift finger I5, so as to position its end I 6 directly behind the hook of a cylinder needle 3, and the bend of thread II drawn by said needle then falls over the end I6 when freed from the needle. End I5 remains in such raised position, or may be re-raised by a second projection 28, to engage in like manner a similar thread bend II in the same Wale of the next course, and the wale loop of successive courses thus engaged remain on finger I5 and are carried downwardly thereon as the knitting progresses. In this Fig. 1 showing the finger I5 is shown with a notch forming one cutting edge 3I cooperating with a fixed cutting edge 32 on plate 33 secured to bearing plate I9,4

the action being that as the loops ride down finger I5 they will enter .the notch and will be severed by tlm cutting edges 3| and 32, the proper movement of finger I5 for this cutting being effected by a suitable projection on disc 25, which may be a projection 26 or an added one similar thereto. The loops of the courses 5, of which there may be more than one uniting two sections, engage and tie the tube to said linger I5 until their loops are severed when the tube is free to be carried below cylinder I; and disc 25 is shown with anumber of projections which may act intermittently when the courses 6 are being knitted, so the finger end I6 will positively engage loops in two courses of the same wale and these loops when cut insure the freeing for pulling out of such course By providing disc 21 with a plurality of projections like 26, as shown, finger I5 may be repeatedly moved reciprocatingly and thus insure positive loop engagement and cutting, and such finger movements will be idle except for engaging special loops dropped by the cylinder needles.

'I'he above described embodiment may be varied, if desired, and in Figs. 5 and 6, the finger I5', operated in manner like finger I5, but having a simplified mounting by projecting the nger itself through bearing I9', is shown with sharpened side edges l5, I5, which -directly act to cut the loops, due to the up-and-down movement of the finger I5', as effected by projection 25', supplemented if desired by additional projections, to insure positive loop cutting by such finger movement.

From the foregoing description, the nature and operation of the present improvements will be readily understood. 'I'heir automatic operation performs a new, useful, and cost-saving operation heretofore requiring hand cutting with its inherent uncertainties, errors, and slower results. And the embodiment shown and described may of course 4be varied and modified within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine having thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular fabric sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out loops; automatically operated loop-engaging means for receiving opposite end loops of the pull-out courses and for severing the same so as to permit removal of said pull-out courses for separation of the fabric sections.

2. In a knitting machine having thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular fabric sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out loops; automatic loop-engaging means intermittently operated to receive opposite end loops of the pull-out courses, and cutting means for severing said end loops so as to permit removal of said pull-out courses for separation of the fabric sections.

3. In a knitting machine having thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular fabric. sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out loops; automatic means comprising a guide finger intermittently movable to position to receive and engage opposite end loops of the pull-out courses, and cutting means for severing said end loops so as to permit removal of said pull-out courses for separation of the fabric sections.

4. In a knitting machine having a cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial needles, and thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular rib-knitted fabric sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out needle loops; a guide ilnger mounted within said cylinder and intermittently operated to receive and engage opposite end loops of said pull-out courses, and for severing said end loops so as to permit removal of said pull-out courses for separation of the fabric sections.

5. In a knitting machine having a cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial needles, and thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular rib knitted fabric sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out needle loops; a guide finger movably mounted in said cylinder, cutting means mounted on said finger, and pattern mechanism for intermittently moving said finger to position for engaging opposite end loops of said pull out courses, and for operating said cutting means for severing said finger engaged loops so as to permit removal of said pullout courses for separation of the fabric sections.

6. In avknitting machine having a cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial needles, and thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular rib knitted fabric sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out needle loops; a guide finger movably mounted in said cylinder, a notch on said nger having a cutting edge, a separate cutting edge cooperative with said iinger cutting edge, pattern control mechanism for intermittently moving said finger to position for engaging opposite end loops of said pull out courses, and pattern control mechanism for relatively moving said cutting edges cooperatively to sever said ringer engaged loops to permit removal of said pull-out courses for separation oi the fabric sections.

'7. In a knitting machine having a cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial needles, and thread feeding and knitting mechanism for producing a succession of tubular rib knitted fabric sections formed with a connecting course of special pull-out needle loops; a guide finger movably mounted in said cylinder and having side cutting edges, pattern mechanism for intermittently moving said nger to position for engaging end loops of said pull out courses, and means for reciprocatively moving said iinger to cause its side cutting edges tosever the loops engaged on said nger.

CHARLES EDWIN SPICHER. FRANK WELLS ROBINSON. 

